Pearl River Delta – Travel guide at Wikivoyage Prefectures of the PRD The region has eight prefectures named for their main cities which we list below. Guangzhou (or Canton) is the provincial capital and the economic and cultural center of the region. It is a few hours up the Pearl River, is thousands of years old and has been a trading city since the days of the Maritime Silk Road . Dongguan - center for the garment trade, between Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Foshan - industrial city near Guangzhou to the southwest that includes the Shunde district, which is famous for its many criss-crossing waterways. Huizhou - a pretty and rapidly-developing town on the Northeast edge of the region Jiangmen - port city in the western part of the Delta; the prefecture includes the county-level cities of Kaiping , Enping , Heshan and Taishan . Shenzhen - is on the mainland next to Hong Kong . It was basically a group of fishing villages until the late 1970s. Then it was made a Special Economic Zone and developed incredibly rapidly; today it is a boom town of around ten million.

Zhongshan - center for furniture trade, just inland of Zhuhai. Zhuhai - is on the mainland next to Macau , also a fishing village turned SEZ, is home to about 1.5 million and is somewhat less rich and less brash than Shenzhen. Shenzhen and Zhuhai are Special Economic Zones (SEZs) where various government programs encourage investment. Other destinations[ edit ] Kaiping - A small town famous for its castle-like dwellings built by overseas Chinese in a mixture of western and eastern styles. Also the setting for the popular Chinese film "Let the Bullets Fly" 《让子弹飞》. Understand[ edit ] This region has always been one of China's major centers for foreign trade, from the days of the Maritime Silk Road through the era of tea clippers and into recent times. Guangdong province produces about a third of China's total exports; most of these are from the Delta. The region is often referred to as "the world's workshop." The largest product groups are clothing and electronics but the industrial base is extremely diverse and the range of products manufactured is enormous.

In 1978, a small processing workshop making handbags for export to Hong Kong opened in Dongguan. This was the first export processing business in China. From then on, as Deng Xiaoping's "reform and opening up" policies went into effect the Delta underwent absolutely frenzied development, partly fueled by heavy Hong Kong, Taiwanese and foreign investment. There was also significant investment and massive migration from other parts of China. During these decades, GDP growth in industrialized countries was generally 0 to 4% a year. China managed 8 or 9% overall national growth every year for decades. The Delta was the fastest-growing region at around 15% a year! That is, GDP doubled every five years from sometime in the 80s until 2008. Shenzhen, the showcase city of the Pearl River Delta, likes to brag it is "the fastest growing city in the fastest growing region of the fastest growing province of the fastest growing country in the world." Part of the "opening up" was creating Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to encourage investment. Two of these — Shenzhen and Zhuhai — are in the Delta.

Both have undergone phenomenal growth, from fishing villages in the 70s to bustling modern cities today. Shenzhen is now well over 10 million people, Zhuhai about two million. The Delta was hit hard by the world economic slowdown and the collapse in exports around 2008, but has mostly recovered. Costs[ edit ] The traveler on a really tight budget should get out of this area altogether and seek the real bargains in China's hinterland. The cost-is-no-object traveler can stay in Hong Kong, or go to up-market places in other cities, and have a wonderful time either way. Residents of Hong Kong or Macau routinely cross to Shenzhen or Zhuhai for cheaper shopping, services and entertainment; travellers can do the same. Talk[ edit ] The main language of the region is Cantonese . However Mandarin has been the language of education and government throughout mainland China for decades, so it is also very widely spoken. In Hong Kong and Macau, Cantonese is more common since it was used in education and government until about the turn of the century. In Shenzhen and Zhuhai, Mandarin predominates because of massive migration from other regions.

Hakka is spoken by a significant minority in the region, but most speakers of that can also handle Cantonese, Mandarin or both. English is more commonly spoken here than in most regions of China, due partly to the influence of Hong Kong and partly to the extensive foreign trade connections in the region. However, it is still not all that widespread; you can expect reasonable English from staff in many hotels and tourist shops, but generally not from a taxi driver or the waitress in a local restaurant. Other foreign languages — anything from Swedish to Swahili — are sometimes heard since this is a very cosmopolitan region, but none are widespread or generally useful for travellers. However, a few of the higher-end hotels specialise in visitors from particular countries; these can provide services in Japanese, Russian or the major West European languages. Get in[ edit ] Guangzhou and Hong Kong both have major international airports with many international flights. Both are relatively new; Hong Kong 's opened in 1998 and Guangzhou 's in 2004. On Wikipedia's list of world airports by passenger volume, Hong Kong ranks 11th and Guangzhou 16th.

Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Macau also have large modern airports, all built or greatly expanded since 1990. Some of the international low-cost carriers fly to Macau or Shenzhen because these airports have lower landing fees than Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Zhuhai handles almost exclusively domestic flights. The region is also well connected to the rest of China by road and rail. The backbone of China's high-speed rail system is the line from Guangzhou to Beijing via Wuhan and Nanjing at 300+ km/h (near 200 mph) all the way. This passes through many cities, various lines branch off it to others, and another 300+ line goes north from Beijing to Harbin . Another fast line, though only 250 km/h, runs along the coast from Shenzhen to Shanghai via Xiamen and Hangzhou . Most travellers will need three separate visas to travel in this area, one each for Hong Kong , Macau and mainland China . Citizens of most countries can get a Hong Kong visa or Macau visa at the airport, but will need to get a Chinese tourist visa in advance. You can get these from a Chinese embassy or consulate in your own country.

For most passports, visas can also be obtained at the government office in Hong Kong or Macau; the Macau office has shorter lines. Many travel agents in either city can also arrange a visa for a small fee. The government-owned CITS (China International Travel Service) has an office in Hong Kong airport which can arrange both visas and flights. There are special visas which allow you into Shenzhen or Zhuhai but not out into the rest of China. They may be obtainable at the border, but as of 2009 they were not available for US or some other passports. Check the Shenzhen entry for details. Get around[ edit ] The entire region is well connected by highways and any city or town in the region is easily reached by bus. Driving yourself is not recommended; see Driving in China . Guangzhou is a major rail hub with connections to anywhere in China. There are fast bullet train links to Shenzhen and Zhuhai which put you right at the border for Hong Kong or Macau respectively. There is a good system of passenger ferries, mostly fast hydroplanes, connecting the main cities on the Pearl River estuary — Hong Kong and Shenzhen on the East side, Macau and Zhuhai on the West.

There are also some helicopter links, fast and convenient but very expensive. See the "Get in" sections of city articles for details. A combination bridge and tunnel system linking Hong Kong to Zhuhai and Macau is under construction; it was originally scheduled to go into service in 2016 but, as of early 2016, the schedule has been pushed back to late 2017. It will include one bridge section of almost 30 km (over 18 miles) which will be the world's longest. All the cities have good local bus systems (but watch for pickpockets ) and plentiful taxis. Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong also have subways. See the "Get around" sections of city articles for details. See[ edit ] Check the articles on individual cities for various things worth seeing, in particular Guangzhou for many historic buildings and many museums, and Shenzhen for a large collection of theme parks and more museums. Kaiping has many diaolou (castles) built by overseas Chinese, mainly in the early 20th century. These buildings combine features of Western, Chinese and sometimes Middle Eastern architecture and are often quite large. They are on the UNESCO World Heritage List .

If you are interested in Chinese history in the era of tea clippers, then the Opium War Museum in Dongguan is definitely worth a visit. Do[ edit ] The Canton Fair , held twice a year in Guangzhou , is China's most important trade fair. In the era of tea clippers, the Emperor allowed foreigners to trade only at Canton (now called Guangzhou). In Mao's era, the Canton Fair was almost the only place where Chinese and other businessfolk could meet to make deals. Those eras are long gone, and there are now many other channels for trade, but the Fair remains huge and important. Eat[ edit ] The Cantonese style of food is the basis of "Chinese food" the world over, because Guangdong provided most of the Chinese emigrants. It is not heavily spiced like Sichuan or Hunan food. Dim sum — small items mostly served in the bamboo steamers used to prepare them — is a Cantonese specialty available mainly for breakfast or lunch. Some dim sum is sold by street stalls and some can be found on menus in some restaurants, but in many restaurants the staff push carts around between the tables for you to choose.

Almost any dim sum place will at least a dozen choices and some have over a hundred. The larger cities have a good range of restaurants offering various sorts of non-Cantonese food; Japanese, Indian and Italian seem to be most common. There are also stores with foreign groceries; the German-based Metro chain is most popular with western expatriates. In both large and small cities, Sichuan restaurants are common and there are some Hunan places; both are seriously spicy. West-of-China noodles and kebabs are also fairly common and often quite moderately priced; look for restaurants whose staff are in Muslim dress. Some western fast food chains like McDonalds and KFC are already widespread, others are expanding and several Chinese companies are also in that market. Drink[ edit ] The Filipino brand San Miguel has breweries in Hong Kong and Foshan. Their beer is quite popular with expats and travellers in Guangdong. See China#Drink for more general information; everything there applies in the PRD with only minor local variations. See Zhuhai#Lotus_Road for a more-or-less unique drinking experience, a collection of tiny open-air bars on a pedestrians-only street. Stay safe[ edit ] The area is heavily infested with pickpockets .

There is some risk of typhoons in summer, especially near the coast. Go next[ edit ] There are several nearby areas that are well worth visiting. Two that are linguistically, culturally and economically part of the PRD but politically different, so not covered here: Hong Kong is a former British colony on the east side of the river mouth. It was founded in 1841, Britain's prize after one of the Opium Wars, and soon eclipsed Macau as the center of the China trade. In 1997 it became a Special Administrative Region of China, retaining much of its laissez-faire capitalist energy under the slogan "one country, two systems". Macau is a former Portuguese colony on the West side of the river mouth. It was the first European enclave in East Asia, and a major trading port from its founding in the 1500s. Today its main attractions are casinos, European food and wine, and old colonial buildings. In 1999 it became a Special Administrative Region of China.

Going West: Grand Coloane Resort - Pearl River Delta, China, Coloane Island, Macao Grand Coloane Resort The Resort at Grand Coloane The Resort at Grand Coloane Grand Coloane Resort is situated on Coloane Island in Macau, a former Portuguese colony that is now a Special Administrative Region of China. Macau is located just off the Chinese mainland, opposite the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. Macau’s subtropical climate, rich colonial heritage, unusual blend of cultures and rising reputation as a gambling Mecca, makes it a popular destination. The resort is only 20 minutes away from the Macau Ferry Terminal, 10 minutes from the Macau International Airport and 5 minutes away from the newly developed Cotai Strip. Grand Coloane Resort enjoys a beautiful secluded location overlooking the South China Sea and the unspoiled Hac Sa Beach. This grand complex built in tiers on the hillside is topped by the Macau Golf & Country Club's fairways, right on its very rooftop! Mediterranean in style and atmosphere, the hotel is spacious and airy; all accommodation boasts a terrace with uninterrupted views of the sea. The resort offers fine Cantonese and international cuisine and a range of bars.

The Club features a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, while Hac Sa Beach and Coloane National Park are just steps away. On this tiny territory half the size of Manhattan, Macau's attractions are all within easy reach with the resort's shuttle service. Golfer guests at Grand Coloane Resort enjoy club privileges at Macau Golf & Country Club, conveniently accessed from the resort’s top floor. Home to the Macau Open, Macau Golf & Country Club is an exclusive private member's club with a stunning a 18-hole championship golf course built over the hills dominating the sea, affording sweeping views over the Pearl River Delta. The layout ranges from flat to undulating, with strategically placed bunkers and lakes, narrow, undulating fairways and well protected greens. An abundance of flora adds seasonal colour to the golf course, creating a truly memorable playing experience. For more details and photos on this destination, use the tags above ... Grand Coloane Resort Grand Coloane Resort Grand Coloane Resort enjoys a beautiful secluded location overlooking the South China Sea and the unspoiled Hac Sa Beach.

This grand complex built in tiers on the hillside is topped by the soft rolling green expanse of Macau Golf & Country Club's fairways, right on its very rooftop! Mediterranean in style and atmosphere, the hotel is spacious and airy, and features over two hundred and eight guestrooms, each designed with sliding bay windows opening up onto a large terracotta terrace with uninterrupted views of the sea. The resort offers fine Cantonese cuisine specializing in dim-sum and homemade dishes at the Chinese restaurant Kwun Hoi Heen. It has two private rooms where diners are served with an uninterrupted sea view. Diners can also enjoy a wide variety of local, Portuguese, Indian, Asian-inspired and international cuisine at Café Panorama, which features both indoor and outdoor seating. The partially sheltered open-air Café Terrace and The Fire Place offer daily BBQ specialties with unique natural surroundings and garden setting. The tastefully decorated Panorama Lounge, Porto Bar and opened Poolside Bar serve a great selection of liquors and beverages in a relaxed-yet-stylish setting The Club offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, while Hac Sa Beach and Coloane National Park are just steps away.

Accommodation 208 Rooms & Suites • Spacious Rooms (42 sqm. + 24 sqm.

terrace), Deluxe Suites & Presidential Suite All guest rooms are refurbished with vibrant, modern décor with A/C • IID phone, broadband internet access, satellite TV and in-house movies • Minibar, coffee/tea makers, and safe • Large bathrooms with separate bath-tub and shower stall with hairdryer and vanity mirror Services 24-hour room service • Laundry service • Concierge • Ferry transfers • Shuttle service to city centre • Gift Shop • Baby sitting Business Garden Marquee • Garden Lawn • 2 Boardrooms • 6 Meeting rooms • Garden court • Grand Ballroom (188 sqm./dividable in 3 function rooms) • 24 hour Business Centre Dining Kwun Hoi Heen (Fine dining Cantonese restaurant) • Café Panorama (Local & international cuisine) • Panorama Lounge • Porto Bar • Poolside Bar Facilities Tennis courts • One multi-purpose court • Outdoor pool, children's pool and Jacuzzi • Game Centre • Kids Club The Club Heated indoor pool & Jacuzzi • Sauna & Steam Room • Spa • Fitness Studio Sightseeing Macau's attractions are all within easy reach with the resort's shuttle service Hac Sa Beach • Coloane National Park • Macau Historic Centre (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

 • Cotai Strip (Asia's top casinos) • Coloane Village • A-ma cultural village • Hong Kong (60 min.

by fast ferry) • Championship Course Hiroshi Ikeda, (1993) 18 holes - 6,624 yds - Par 71 Home to the Macau Open, Macau Golf & Country Club is an exclusive private member's club with a stunning layout built over the hills dominating the sea, affording sweeping views over the Pearl River Delta. The layout ranges from flat to undulating, with strategically placed bunkers and lakes, narrow, undulating fairways and well protected greens. An abundance of flora adds seasonal colour to the golf course, creating a truly memorable playing experience. Ocean Driving Range + Short game practice facilities • Clubhouse Luxury locker rooms & massage rooms. Proshop. Spa (Sauna, steam bath and whirlpool). Outdoor pool and Pool Bar, Golfers' Grill Pearl River Delta Golf Pearl River Delta Golf From Macau to Hong Kong and Guangdong on the Chinese mainland, the Pearl River Delta has turned into a new golfing Mecca, with an impressive range of premium golf courses designed by world renown architects. All are within an hour drive or easily accessible by the fast ferry service crisscrossing the delta and operating round the clock to Macau.

• Guangdong Golf With so many layouts to play at Mission Hills, the world's largest resort with 12 signature courses, it is difficult to find time to try some other courses in the province of Guangdong. Yet there are plenty of other good faciities around and in particular Shenzen Golf Club, one of China's oldest club. Designed back in 1985 by the legendary Japanese player Isao Aoki, the original layout was revamped by Robin Nelson and Neil Haworth in 2000, adding an extra nine. A ten minute drive from the Hong Kong border, the course unwind in parkland surroundings with the scenic backdrop of the city downtown's skyscrapers. Shenzen played host to the 2006 China Open. • Honk Kong Golf A trading port in the 19th century, Hong Kong has developed into a leading financial centre and the British heritage has left a great passion for the game. The territory boasts five golf clubs totalling seven 18-hole and two 9-hole courses.

The oldest one is The Hong Kong Golf Club, former "Royal" and featuring four courses at two different locations; the original nine holler built in 1898 on Hong Kong Island, and three 18-hole courses at Fanling in the New Territories, where the club extended in 1911. The Jockey Club is another vintage institution, founded in 1884 to promote horse racing. Under colonial rule, the club also enjoyed royal patronage and today it has been selected to stage equestrian competitions for the 2008 Olympic Games. The golf section of the club dates back to 1996, when the Kau Sai Chau golf facility was created to meet the growing demand for golf in Hong Kong. Located along a the rugged coastline of the Sai Kung Peninsula, the club boast three championship courses. Macau & Pearl Delta Macau & Pearl Delta The mouth of the Pearl River forms a large bay knwon as Pearl Delta. This bay separates Macau from Hong Kong and Shenzhen, while the historic town of Canton lies at the head of the delta.It is one of the most densely urbanised regions in the world and one of the main hubs of China's economic growth.

Macao Situated on Coloane Island, Macau is a former Portuguese colony that is now a Special Administrative Region of China. Macau is located just off the Chinese mainland, opposite the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. Macau’s subtropical climate, rich colonial heritage, unusual blend of cultures and rising reputation as a gambling Mecca, make it a popular destination. On this tiny territory half the size of Manhattan, Macau's attractions are all within easy reach. Flagship attractions are the Cotai Strip and Macau Historic Centre, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique blend of Chinese and Portuguese cultures. Hong Kong A former British colony, Hong Kong is now one of the two special administrative regions (SAR) of the People's Republic of China. About the size of New York City, the territory lies on the eastern side of the Pearl River Delta, opposite from Macau. Bordering the Guangdong Chinese province to the north, the territory is bathed by the South China Sea dotted with 235 islands, the main one being Hong Kong island itself. Shenzen In 20 short years, Shenzhen has been transformed from a fishing village to a fast-track metropolis of over 10 million people.

Burgeoning high-tech manufacturing, logistics and financial services industries have helped Shenzhen achieve the highest per capita GDP in mainland China. And yet, the environment has not been left behind, as Shenzhen was recently named an International Garden City and was also awarded the Global 500 Environmental Award. Canton Known historically as Canton, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China and southern China's largest city. For thousands of years, the sub-tropical metropolis of Canton has attracted visitors and rulers to the Pearl River delta. Known variously as the Flower City, Canton and the Southern Gate of China, this evergreen City has served as the capital for three Chinese dynasties. In ancient times, travelers came here to trade for exquisite silks. Today, Guangzhou is a leading commercial and manufacturing region - a cultural center with several universities, and is noted both for its valuable embroidery crafts and extraordinary Cantonese cuisine Address & Contact 1918 Estrada de Hac Sa Coloane Pearl River Delta Region - How is Pearl River Delta Region abbreviated? Pearl River Delta Region - How is Pearl River Delta Region abbreviated?

(redirected from Pearl River Delta Region) Acronym Pearl River Delta Region (China) PRDR PRDR Pulsed Reduced Dose-Rate Radiotherapy Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Write what you mean clearly and correctly. References in periodicals archive ? Its strategic orientation is "based in Hong Kong, backed by the mainland and facing the world" and is principally engaged in terminal logistics, high-speed waterway passenger transportation and tourist business between Hong Kong, the Pearl River Delta Region (PRD) and coastal areas. Chu Kong Shipping 2015 Interim Results Increased by 15% Year on Year Guangzhou, capital city of the Guangdong Province in the Pearl River Delta region of southern China, and a sister city of Birmingham, is already the location of one of the most successful British academic engagements in China, the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.

CHINA BOOM FOR CITY UNI Yaro said the Pearl River Delta region encompasses cities such as Hong Kong and Guangzhou and has a population of 50 million--slightly more than the population of Americans living between Maine and Virginia and including cities such as Boston and New York. delta - National Geographic Society delta Photograph courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC Delta Blues Delta blues is a style of music developed by African-American artists living and performing in the Mississippi Delta region of the southern United States. The Mississippi Delta actually has nothing do do with deltas at all! The Mississippi Delta is a flood plain between two rivers in northwestern Mississippi, the Mississippi and the Yazoo. The Mississippi Delta is more than 480 kilometers (300 miles) north of the delta of the Mississippi River in Lousiana. Slide guitar is one of the standard instruments used by delta blues musicians, while familiar topics include poverty and injustice. Robert Johnson, widely recognized as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, played the Delta blues. Listen to Robert Johnson here . Delta s are wetland s that form as rivers empty their water and sediment into another body of water, such as an ocean, lake, or another river.

Deltas can also empty into land, although this is less common. A river moves more slowly as it nears its mouth , or end. This causes sediment, solid material carried downstream by current s, to fall to the river bottom. The slowing velocity of the river and the build-up of sediment allows the river to break from its single channel as it nears its mouth. Under the right conditions, a river forms a deltaic lobe . A mature deltaic lobe includes a distributary network—a series of smaller, shallower channels, called distributaries, that branch off from the mainstem of the river. In a deltaic lobe, heavier, coarse r material settles first. Smaller, finer sediment is carried farther downstream. The fine st material is deposited beyond the river's mouth. This material is called alluvium or silt. Silt is rich in nutrient s that help microbe s and plants—the producers in the food web —grow. As silt builds up, new land is formed. This is the delta. A delta extends a river's mouth into the body of of water into which it is emptying. A delta is sometimes divided into two parts: subaqueous and subaerial.

The subaqueous part of a delta is underwater. This is the most steeply sloping part of the delta, and contains the finest silt. The newest part of the subaqueous delta, furthest from the mouth of the river, is called the prodelta . The subaerial part of a delta is above water. The subaerial region most influenced by waves and tides is called the lower delta . The region most influenced by the river's flow is called the upper delta . This nutrient-rich wetland of the upper and lower delta can be an extension of the river bank, or a series of narrow islands between the river's distributary network. Like most wetlands, deltas are incredibly diverse and ecologically important ecosystem s. Deltas absorb runoff from both flood s (from rivers) and storm s (from lakes or the ocean). Deltas also filter water as it slowly makes its way through the delta's distributary network. This can reduce the impact of pollution flowing from upstream. Deltas are also important wetland habitat s. Plants such as lilies and hibiscus grow in deltas, as well as herb s such as worts, which are used in traditional medicines.

Many, many animals are indigenous to the shallow, shifting waters of a delta. Fish, crustacean s such as oysters, birds, insects, and even apex predator s such as tigers and bears can be part of a delta's ecosystem. Not all rivers form deltas. For a delta to form, the flow of a river must be slow and steady enough for silt to be deposited and build up. The Ok Tedi, in Papua New Guinea is one of the fastest-flowing rivers in the world. It does not form a delta as it becomes a tributary of the Fly River. (The Fly, on the other hand, does form a rich delta as it empties into the Gulf of Papua, part of the Pacific Ocean.) A river will also not form a delta if exposed to powerful wave s. The Columbia River in Canada and the United States, for instance, deposits enormous amounts of sediment into the Pacific Ocean, but strong waves and currents sweep the material away as soon as it is deposited. Tide s also limit where deltas can form. The Amazon, the largest river in the world, is without a delta. The tides of the Atlantic Ocean are too strong to allow silt to create a delta on the Amazon.

Types of Deltas There are two major ways of classifying deltas. One considers the influences that create the landform , while the other considers its shape. Influence There are four main types of deltas classified by the processes that control the build-up of silt: wave-dominated, tide-dominated, Gilbert deltas, and estuarine deltas. In a wave-dominated delta, the movement of waves controls a delta's size and shape. The Nile delta (shaped by waves from the Mediterranean Sea) and Senegal delta (shaped by waves from the Atlantic Ocean) are both wave-dominated deltas. Tide-dominated deltas usually form in areas with a large tidal range , or area between high tide and low tide . The massive Ganges-Bramahputra delta, in India and Bangladesh, is a tide-dominated delta, shaped by the rise and fall of tides in the Bay of Bengal. Gilbert delta s are formed as rivers deposit large, coarse sediments. Gilbert deltas are usually confined to rivers emptying into freshwater lakes. They are usually steeper than the normal flat plain of a wave-dominated or tide-dominated delta. This type of delta was first identified by the geologist Grove Karl Gilbert, who described mountain streams feeding ancient Lake Bonneville.

(Utah's Great Salt Lake is the only remnant of Lake Bonneville.) Estuarine deltas form as a river does not empty directly into the ocean, but instead forms an estuary. An estuary is a partly enclosed wetland that features a brackish water (part-saltwater, part-freshwater) habitat. The Yellow River forms an estuary, for instance, as it reaches the Bohai Sea off the coast of northern China. Shape The term delta comes from the upper-case Greek letter delta (Δ), which is shaped like a triangle. Deltas with this triangular or fan shape are called arcuate (arc-like) deltas. The Nile River forms an arcuate delta as it empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Strong waves make a cuspate delta a pointed, tooth-shaped version of the arcuate. The Tiber River forms a cuspate delta as it empties into the Tyrrhenian Sea near Rome, Italy. Not all deltas are triangle-shaped. A bird-foot delta has few, widely spaced distributaries, making it look like a bird's foot. The Mississippi River forms a bird-foot delta as it empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

Inverted delta s look like the opposite of a classic arcuate delta. The distributary network of an inverted delta is inland, while a single stream reaches the ocean or other body of water. The delta of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River in northern California is an inverted delta. The rivers and creeks of the Sacramento and San Joaquin distributary networks meet in Suisun Bay, before flowing to the Pacific Ocean through a single gap in the Coast Range, the Carquinez Strait. Inland deltas, which empty into a plain, are extremely rare. The Okavango delta in Botswana is probably the most well-known—and so unusual it is recognized as one of the "Seven Natural Wonders of Africa." Water from the Okavango River never reaches another body of water. The delta spreads water and silt across a flat plain in the Kalahari Desert before being evaporate d. An abandoned delta forms as a river develops a new channel, leaving the other to dry up or stagnate . This process is called avulsion . Avulsion occurs when the slope of a channel decreases and the sediment build-up increases.

These forces allow the channel to overflow its banks or levee s and find a steeper, more direct route to the ocean or other body of water. The process of avulsion in deltaic lobes is called delta switching . Over time, delta switching can create entirely new deltaic lobes. Delta switching has resulted in seven or eight distinct deltaic lobes of the Mississippi River over the past 5,000 years. Deltas and People Deltas are incredibly important to the human geography of a region. They are important places for trade and commerce , for instance. The booming city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, sits on the delta of the Fraser River as it empties into the Strait of Georgia, part of the Pacific Ocean. The Fraser delta helps make Vancouver one of the busiest, most cosmopolitan port s in the world, where goods from the interior of Canada are export ed, and goods from around the world are import ed. The Pearl River Delta, sometimes called the Delta of Guangdong, is another heavily urban ized river delta. The Pearl River delta is one of the fastest-growing centers of China's economy.

The Pearl River delta includes both of China's two special administrative regions, the former British colony of Hong Kong and the former Portuguese colony of Macau. Hong Kong and Macau are welcoming to western business, and provide a entryway to the Chinese market . The Pearl River delta region is growing so quickly, it frequently experiences labor shortages as immigrant s from the Chinese interior settle in the area, seeking a better life and higher wages. Deltas have a rich accumulation of silt, so they are usually fertile agricultural areas. The world's largest delta is the Ganges–Brahmaputra delta in India and Bangladesh, which empties into the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh sits almost entirely on this delta, and about two-thirds of the population live and work there. Fish, other seafood, and crop s such as rice and tea are the leading agricultural products of the delta. Similarly, the inverted delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers in northern California is one of the most agriculturally rich areas in the U.S. The soil supports crops from asparagus to zucchini, wine grapes to rice. Disappearing Deltas Extensive river management threatens deltas. River management involves monitor ing and administer ing a river's flow (often through the use of dam s).

River management increases the amount of land available for agricultural or industrial development , and controls access to water for drinking, industry , and irrigation . Engineer s and government officials must consistently debate the interests of agriculture, industry, the environment , and citizen safety and health when putting delta wetlands at risk. River management in Egypt has radically alter ed the way land is farmed around the Nile delta, for instance. Construction of the Aswan Dam in the 1960s reduced annual flooding of the delta. This flooding had distributed silt and nutrients along the banks of the Nile. Today, Egypt is much more reliant on fertilizer s and irrigation. The Nile delta is also shrinking as a result of the Aswan Dam and other river management techniques. Without silt and other sediments to fortify it in a prodelta, the waves of the Mediterranean Sea are eroding the delta faster than the Nile can replace it. In the United States, dams on the Colorado River nearly prevent it from reaching its delta on the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. The ecosystem (what was once the world's largest desert estuary) has been reduced to a fraction of its former area, and many indigenous species are vulnerable, threatened, or endangered.

Finally, decades of river management prevent the Mississippi River from naturally flowing through its delta wetlands. Like the Nile delta, the Mississippi delta is also eroding. Between 1990 and 2000, the Mississippi River Delta lost 62 square kilometers (24 square miles) of wetlands per year—that's about one football field of mud washed into the Gulf of Mexico every 38 minutes. This situation contributed to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Term abandoned delta Noun landform created as a river develops a new channel, leaving the other to dry up or stagnate. absorb to oversee, manage, or be in charge of. agriculture Noun gravel, sand, and smaller materials deposited by flowing water. alter apex predator Noun species at the top of the food chain, with no predators of its own. Also called an alpha predator or top predator. arcuate shaped like an arc or bow, or part of a circle. avulsion Noun natural process involving the abandonment of one river channel and the formation of a new one. bank Noun a slope of land adjoining a body of water, or a large elevated area of the sea floor.

bird-foot delta Noun area where a river flows into a larger body of water through long, isolated channels that branch outward like a bird's foot. Also called a birdfoot delta or bird's-foot delta. brackish water salty water, usually a mixture of seawater and freshwater. channel deepest part of a shallow body of water, often a passageway for ships. classify to identify or arrange by specific type or characteristic. coarse rough or composed of large, jagged particles. colony people and land separated by distance or culture from the government that controls them. commerce trade, or the exchange of goods and services. communication sharing of information and ideas. consistent maintaining a steady, reliable quality. cosmopolitan familiar or comfortable all over the world, or to people from all over the world. crop crustacean Noun type of animal (an arthropod) with a hard shell and segmented body that usually lives in the water. current pointed or tapering to a sharp end. dam structure built across a river or other waterway to control the flow of water. debate to argue or disagree in a formal setting. delta Noun the flat, low-lying plain that sometimes forms at the mouth of a river from deposits of sediments.

landform created as a river deposits sediment into the body of water as it empties. delta switching process of a delta distributary abandoning one channel and carving out another. desert Noun construction or preparation of land for housing, industry, or agriculture. distributary stream that branches off from the main stem of a river or other flowing fluid. diverse varied or having many different types. downstream in the direction of a flow, toward its end. economic having to do with money. ecosystem engineer Noun person who plans the building of things, such as structures (construction engineer) or substances (chemical engineer). environment conditions that surround and influence an organism or community. erode to change from a liquid to a gas or vapor. export good or service traded to another area. farming the art, science, and business of cultivating the land for growing crops. fertile able to produce crops or sustain agriculture. fertilizer nutrient-rich chemical substance (natural or manmade) applied to soil to encourage plant growth. filter Verb to remove particles from a substance by passing the substance through a screen or other material that catches larger particles and lets the rest of the substance pass through. fine water that is not salty.

gap person who studies the physical formations of the Earth. Gilbert delta Noun landform created by the depositon of coarse sediments, as opposed to the fine sediments of regular deltas. government system or order of a nation, state, or other political unit. habitat type of seasonal plant often used as a medicine or seasoning. high tide Noun water level that has risen as a result of the moon's gravitational pull on the Earth. human geography the study of the way human communities and systems interact with their environment. Hurricane Katrina 2005 storm that was one of the deadliest in U.S. history. immigrant person who moves to a new country or region. import to bring in a good or service from another area for trade. indigenous characteristic to or of a specific place. industry activity that produces goods and services. inverted delta Noun landform noted for its opposite-seeming appearance: the wide end of the delta is inland, while the narrow end empties into a body of water. irrigation portion of a delta defined by a region's tidal range. low tide Noun water level that has dropped as a result of the moon's gravitational pull on the Earth.

mainstem largest river or channel in a watershed or drainage basin. market central place for the sale of goods. massive tiny organism, usually a bacterium. monitor to observe and record behavior or data. mouth Noun place where a river empties its water. Usually rivers enter another body of water at their mouths. port Noun place on a body of water where ships can tie up or dock and load and unload cargo. to keep something from happening. prodelta newest, most aquatic-facing portion of a delta, featuring the finest sediment. radically something that is left over. river management the art and science of controlling the flow, path, and power of rivers. runoff transportation of goods, usually by large boat. silt top layer of the Earth's surface where plants can grow. stagnate severe weather indicating a disturbed state of the atmosphere resulting from uplifted air. tidal range the difference in height between an area's high tide and low tide. tide Noun rise and fall of the ocean's waters, caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. buying, selling, or exchanging of goods and services. tributary portion of a delta roughly defined by deposits from a river. urban having to do with city life.

velocity measurement of the rate and direction of change in the position of an object. wave moving swell on the surface of water. wetland A City of 260 Million. Where Else But China? A City of 260 Million. Where Else But China? {{article.article.images.featured.caption}} Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Full Bio The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. Loading ... This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}. Subscribe Image via Wikipedia Beijing is planning to combine nine southern Chinese cities into the world’s largest urban area. Called the “Turn the Pearl River Delta into One” scheme, the plan will effectively merge Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, Huizhou, Zhaoqing, Jiangmen, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai into a single megacity with a geographical size larger than Switzerland. Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, is already considered the world’s second largest metropolis with 24.9 million residents.

The other eight cities in the Pearl River Delta plan will mean that the new unit will have a total of 42 million inhabitants. Add in the neighboring Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, which some Chinese planners would like to do, and you have a megacity of 50 million people. The PRD, as the Pearl River Delta is known to locals, is already an economic unit that accounts for a tenth of China’s economy and a quarter of the country’s trade by value. Government officials and private developers have already linked the nine cities with roads, tunnels, and bridges, but planners would like to see even more connecting infrastructure. The idea is to spend 2 trillion yuan—slightly over $300 billion—on 29 rail lines running 3,100 miles. Inhabitants will zip from one urban center to another in an hour or less, a real feat because the area is separated by the wide mouth of the muddy Pearl River. There would be about 150 infrastructure improvements to enhance transportation, energy, water, and telecom networks. Slums? Technocrats have not forgotten human needs in their grand plan.

Not only industry but also public services will be spread more fairly with medical facilities and schools upgraded. Residents, for instance, will be able to use the internet to find hospitals with the shortest waiting times. The concept is that with size comes both efficiency—telecom bills, for example, will be cut by 85%—and the ability to bring resources to bear on problems—pollution is one of the problems that will be dealt with on an integrated basis. Central technocrats officially deny plans to create one PRD megacity. Nonetheless, they admit to contemplating essentially the same thing: three adjoining “economic circles” of three cities each in the delta. What’s the motivation for the consolidation in whatever form it takes? At first glance, it looks as if local leaders want to put the PRD in a better position to compete with Beijing and Shanghai. The plan would also serve their interests by marginalizing nearby Hong Kong. Eventually Beijing wants the former British colony to be part of an integrated PRD—the city was included in a national five-year plan for the first time this year—but for the moment it will be left out of the nine-cities scheme. Yet there is a darker aspect to the effort.

Beijing for decades has attempted to tame unruly Guangdong province, long a thorn in the side of China’s central leaders, and the PRD concept fits perfectly with President Hu Jintao’s goal of exerting influence, “harmonizing” local officials in Chinese lingo. The fierce competition among Pearl River Delta cities gives him an excuse. The inter-city rivalry has ultimately been good for economic development, but it has inevitably led to duplication. Mr. Hu is using the duplication to justify central control that planning naturally contemplates. As Guangzhou academic Li Zhigang says , “The central government wants to see a coordinated development of PRD cities under its guidance.” A week near Hong Kong - Wikitravel A week near Hong Kong From Wikitravel A week near Hong Kong Contents This article is an itinerary . This itinerary has suggestions for someone who: wants to get out of Hong Kong (perhaps cannot afford Hong Kong, or has seen it before) has about a week to spend does not want to fly or take a long bus ride. Of course you could easily spend a week, or several, in Hong Kong itself.

Also, there are several nearby areas of China that are well worth visiting: Guilin and Yangshuo for famous mountain and river scenery, possibly returning via Southern China's greatest city, Guangzhou . Hainan for tropical beaches. Wu Yi Mountain for history and scenery, returning via the lively modern city Xiamen . Yunnan , home to many of China's minority ethnic groups and a very popular tourist destination. There are direct flights and/or overnight buses to all of those. Here I assume you want to stay within a few hour's bus or train travel of Hong Kong. Background[ edit ] The region near Hong Kong is called the Pearl River Delta . Politically, it is three areas, parts of Guangdong province and two former colonies that are now Special Administrative Regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau. Economically, it is a powerhouse. Guangdong does a third of China's exporting and is China's richest province. While Western countries have GDP growth of 1% to 3% annually, China has had 8% or better every year for a couple of decades. For the Delta area, annual growth has been around 15% for most of those years.

The Delta has been the fastest growing region of the fastest growing province of the fastest growing country on Earth. As of early 2009, however, the Delta is also the area of China hit hardest by the world economic crash. Quite a few factories have closed due to a slowdown in export markets. A high-speed rail system (300 km an hour top speed) is being built to link all of the Delta cities together. Parts of it are already in service. Visas[ edit ] You may need three separate visas for this trip, one each for Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. See the Hong Kong , Macau and China entries for details. Citizens of most countries can get Macau and Hong Kong visas at the airport, but will need to get a Chinese tourist visa in advance. You can get these from a Chinese embassy or consulate in your own country. For most passports, visas can also be obtained in Hong Kong or Macau via travel agents or the government office. The Macau office has shorter lines. There are special visas which allow you into Shenzhen or Zhuhai but not out into the rest of China. They would not be useful for my suggested route, but might be for related trips.

They may be obtainable at the border, but last I heard were not available for US or some other passports. Check the Shenzhen entry for details. Cities[ edit ] Guangzhou is the provincial capital a few hours up the Pearl River. It was known as Canton in the tea-clipper era. Guangzhou is thousands of years old and has always been the most important city of Southern China. Macau is a former Portuguese colony on the West side of the river mouth. It was the first European enclave in East Asia, and a major trading port from its founding in the 1500s. Today its main attractions are casinos, European food and wine, and old colonial buildings. In 1999 it became a Special Administrative Region of China. Hong Kong is a former British colony on the east side of the river mouth. It was founded in 1841, Britain's prize after one of the Opium Wars, and soon eclipsed Macau as the center of the China trade. In 1997 it became a Special Administrative Region of China, retaining much of its laissez-faire capitalist energy under the slogan "one country, two systems". Shenzhen is on the mainland next to Hong Kong.

It was basically a fishing village until the 1970s. Then it was made a Special Economic Zone and developed incredibly rapidly. Today it is a boom town of at least six million. Zhuhai is on the mainland next to Macau , also a fishing village turned SEZ, and is home to well over a million and is somewhat less rich and less brash than Shenzhen . For an explanation of the terms "Special Administrative Region" (SAR) and "Special Economic Zone" (SEZ), see List of Chinese provinces and regions . Costs[ edit ] The traveler on a really tight budget should get out of this area altogether and seek the real bargains in China's hinterland. The cost-is-no-object traveler can stay in Hong Kong, or go to up-market places in other cities, and have a wonderful time either way. As a general rule, both Shenzhen and Macau are cheaper than Hong Kong. Zhuhai is cheaper than any of the above. Consider doing most of your shopping there. Risks[ edit ] There are a lot of pickpockets throughout this area. See the Wikitravel article pickpockets for advice on precautions. See individual city listings for other risks.

Question: Which former British colony stands on the delta of the Pearl River?
Answer: Hong Kong